Casket and handle therefor



June 15, 1965 B. H- KOPPEN 3,188,711

CASKET AND HANDLE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 23, 1962 3,183,711 Ratented June15, 1965 den 3,188,711 CASKET AND HANDLE Ti-TEREFDR Bernard H. Koppen,509 E. Lincoln St, Belvidere, lll. Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,4907 Claims. (Cl. 27-2) This invention relatesto caskets and particularlyto carrying handles for caskets.

An important object of this invention is to provide a casket andcarrying handle therefor in which the handle is so'arranged as tosimulate a decorative ornament, when the handle is not in use.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a carryinghandle for a casket wherein the handle, when not in use, can be moved toa position in which the handle simulates a medallion and pendent tothereby avoid the functional and utilitarian appearance normallyincident to casket handles.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a carrying handle fora casket which can be used without modification on either side or on theends of a casket to reduce the number of different parts which must bemade and stocked.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a carrying handlefor a casket which can be selectively moved to either of two relativelyopposite carrying positions for use in carrying the casket in eitherdirection.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a carrying handle fora casket which is of simple construction, and which is strong anddurable to withstand the heavy loads and forces imposed on the handleduring use, and which is yet graceful and decorative in appearance.

These, together with other objects and advantages of this invention willbe more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a casket having the carrying handle of thepresent invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the handle assembly and illustrating differentmoved positions of the handle;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the handle assembly;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, taken on the plane 44of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, taken on the plane5-5 of FIG. 3.

Reference is now made more specifically to FIG. 1 wherein there isillustrated a casket, of conventional construction, and which employsspaced side walls 16*, end walls 11, a bottom Wall 12 and a cover 13.The caskets are commonly designed and ornamented to provide a decorativeappearance. However, the carrying handles heretofore provided on casketshave been such that their utilitarian purpose has been quite apparentand have detracted from the overall ornamental appearance of the casket.A number of bearers are used in carrying the casket and it is necessaryto enable gripping of the casket at a number of points along the lengththereof. A common type of carrying handle presently being provided oncaskets is in the form of an elongated bar which extends lengthwise ofthe sides of the casket. In accordance with the present invention, aplurality of individual carrying handle assemblies 15 are provided, andwhich handle assemblies are so constructed and designed as to minimizeor avoid the appearance of being functional or utilitarian, when thehandles are not in use. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of handleassemblies, herein shown three in number, are provided on each of thesides 19 of the casket and, preferably, like handle assemblies areprovided on the ends 111 for use in carrying the casket and also forlowering the casket into the grave. In accordance with the presentinvention, the handle assemblies are so arranged that they can be used,without modification, on either side or on the ends of the casket, andcan, moreover, he used when carrying the casket in any direction.

The handle assemblies include a mounting plate 21, preferably shaped inthe form of a decorative medallion, and which mounting plate isconveniently formed with opening 22 for receiving fasteners 23 to attachthe mounting plates to the sides or ends of the casket. The mountingplate is advantageously made concavo-convex as shown in PEG. 3, toprovide adequate strength while minimizing the amount and weight of thematerial required to form the same. A reentrant sleeve 25 is formed onthe mounting plate 21 and extends rearwardly thereof to define a socket26. As will be seen from FIG. 3, the peripheral rim portion 27 of themounting plate terminates in a flat rear face 23 adapted to rest againstthe side or end of the casket, when the handle assembly is attachedthereto, and which fiat face is disposed rearwardly of the end of thesocket 25'. The socket 25 also includes an end wall 29 at the rear endthereof and an opening 31 in the end wall. The carrying handle 32 has agenerally L-shaped configuration and includes a hand grip portion 33 anda pintle portion 3 which extends generally perpendicular to the handgrip portion adjacent one end thereof. The pintle portion 34 isrotatably supported in the socket 26 and is retained against axialwithdrawal by means of a screw 35 which is threaded into a tappedopening 36 in the handle. The screw 35 is advantageously provided with acollar 37 under the head and which collar is slightly thicker than therear wall 29 of the sleeve to enable tightening and locking of the screwagainst the end of the pintle portion 34 without causing binding betweenthe handle and the end wall.

The handle 32 is arranged to normally extend downwardly, when not inuse, and to simulate a pendant attached to the medallion shaped mountingplate 21, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In order to enable carrying ofthe casket in either direction, the handle is arranged to be swungeither to the left or to the right as viewed in FIG. 2 from the pendantposition shown in solid lines, to a generally horizontal carryingposition, shown in phantom in FIGS. 1 and 2. A stop means is provided onthe pintle portion 341 and on the sleeve 25 for stopping the handle ineither of its carrying positions.

As shown in FIGS. 35, the stop means includes a generally crescentshaped lug 41 formed on the interior of the sleeve 25 adjacent its rearend, and which lug defines opposed stop faces 42 and 43. The pintleportion 34 is formed with a reduced diameter inner end portion 34a and agenerally crescent shaped lug 44 which defines opposed stop faces 45 and46. The stop faces 42, 45 and 43, 46 are arranged such that, when thehand grip portion 33 extends downwardly as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, thestop faces are angularly spaced apart approximately to enable swingingmovement of the handle through substantially 90 in either direction fromthe downwardly extending position to either of two oppositely extendinggenerally horizontal positions for carrying. Thus, when the handle isswung to the left as shown at 33', the stop face 45 on the pintleportion will engage the stop face 42 on the sleeve and, similarly, whenthe handle is swung in the opposite direction to the position shown at33", the stop face 46 will engage stop face 43.

Thus, the handle can be swung from a pendant position to either of tworelatively opposite horizontal carrying positions so that the handle canbe arranged to extend horizontal and project rearwardly relative to thepath of travel, when the casket is carried in either direction.Moreover, this arrangement also enables use of the same handle assemblyon either side of the casket, or on the ends, without requiringmodification in the construction. As will be seen from FIG. 3, the handgrip portion is spaced laterally from the mounting plate 21 and from thewall of the casket when the handle is mounted thereon, to provideclearance around the hand grip portionfor the re ception of the hand ofthe bearer. In order to enhance the clearance, without loss in strengthor-rigidity, the mounting plate 21 is advantageously formed with oblongshape as best'shown in FIG, 2, and is mounted on'tthe casket with themajor axis extending vertically. Thus, when the hand grip portion is inits pendant position, it parallels the major axis of the'oblong mounting'plate, and when the handle is in either of its generally horisaidhandles;having a generally L-shaped configuration and having a hand gripportion and a pintle portion extending generally perpendicular to oneend of the handle portion, said mounting plates having sockets thereindis posed generally perpendicular to the side of the casket androtatably receiving said pintle portions of the handles to support thelatter for swinging movement about an axis generally perpendicular tothe side of the casket with the hand grip-portion laterally spaced fromthe mounting plate and the side of the casket to allow gripping of thehandle, said sockets supporting said handles for swinging movement froma normal position in which the hand grip portion extendsdownwardlyselectively in either direction zontal carrying positions, itparallels the minor axis of the oblong mounting plate so that the majorportion of the hand grip projects beyond the outer edge of the mountingplate. With this arrangement, interference between the hand of the userand the mounting plate, during carrying of the casket is minimized.

I claim: I

1. In combination with a casket having opposed sides and ends, at leasttwo independent handle assemblies mounted on each side of the casketintermediate the ends, said handle assemblies each including a mountingplate attached to the side of the casket and a carrying handleindividual to each mounting plate, said handles having a to first andsecond relatively opposite horizontal positions, and means on saidpintle portions and said sockets retaining the. pintle portions in thesockets and defining first and second stops for limiting upward swingingmovement of the hand grip portion to said first and second horizontalpositions.

c 4. In combination with a casket having spaced sides, a plurality ofcasket handle assemblies on the sides of the casket, each casket handleassembly comprising amounting plate, means mounting'the plate on theside of the casket, said mounting plate having a socket in one sidegenerally L-shaped configuration and having a hand-grip movement betweena normal downwardly extending posi- 7 tion selectively in eitherdirectionto first and second relatively opposite horizontal positionsfor carrying the casket in either direction, and first and second stopmeans for limiting upward swinging movement of the handle to said firstand second horizontal positions.

2. In combination with acasket having opposed side and end walls, atleast two independent handle assemblies mounted on each side wall of thecasket intermediate its ends and one handle assembly mounted on each endwall,

said handle assemblies each including a mounting plate I attached to arespective wall of the casket and a carrying handle individual to eachmounting plate, .said handles having a generally L -shapedconfigurationand having a hand-grip portion and a pintle portionextending generally perpendicular to one end of the hand-grip portion,means non-slidably and rotatably mounting the pintle portion of eachhandle on a mounting plate for swinging movement about an axis generallyperpendicular to'the respeci tive wall with the hand-grip portion of thehandle laterally spaced from the mounting" plate and wall to allowgripping of the handle, said pintle mounting means supporting saidhandles for swinging movement between a normal downwardly extendingposition selectively in either direction to first and second relatively,opposite horizontal position for carrying the casket in eitherdirection, and first and second stop means for limiting upward swingingmovement of the handle to said first and second horizontal positions. a

3. In combination with a casket having opposed sides andends, at leasttwo independent handle. assemblies mounted on, each side of the casketintermediate the ends, said handle assemblies each including a mountingplate and a carrying handle individual to each mounting plate,

thereof extending generally perpendicular to the side lot the casket, acarrying handle having a generally L-shaped configuration and includinga hand grip portion and a pintle portion on one end of the hand gripportion extending generally perpendicular thereto, meansnon-slidably androtatably mounting said pintle portion in said socket for turningmovement aboutthe axis of the socket and generallyperpendicular to theside of the casket, and stop means on 'said socket and said'pintleportion for limitingswinging movement of said hand grip portion throughan angle of approximately between. first and second relatively oppositehorizontal positions for use in carrying the casket in either direction,said hand grip portion being swingable to a third downwardly extendingpositionintermediate said first and second positions to simulate adecorative pendant when the handle assembly is mounted on the casket,and said stop means preventing upward swinging of the hand-grip portionof the respective handle above said horizontal positions.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said'socket has an apertured endwall, said means mounting said pintle portion on said socket includingaheaded screw extendingthrough saidapertured end wall and into saidpintle portion.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said stop means includes a lug onsaid socket defining first and second angularly spaced'stop faces and alug on said pintle defining third and fourth angularly spaced stop facesrespectively engageable with sa'id first and second stop faces when saidhand grip portion is in said first and second positions.

V 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said mounting plate has anoblong shape and said'stop faces are arranged so that the hand gripportion substantially parallels the minor transverse axis of thc oblongplate when the hand grip portion is in said first and second positionsand substantially parallels the major transverse axis of the mountingplate when the hand grip portion is insaid third position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 959,235 5/10Lernieux 16-115 2,113,510 4/38 Hynes 292-52 2,203,845 6/40 Sletten292-240 X 2,708,301 5/55 Wilkerson 27-2 RICHARD A. GAUDET, PrimaryExaminer.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A CASKET HAVING OPPOSED SIDES AND ENDS, AT LEASTTWO INDEPENDENT HANDLE ASSEMBLIES MOUNTED ON EACH SIDE OF THE CASKETINTERMEDIATE THE ENDS, SAID HANDLE ASSEMBLIES EACH INCLUDING A MOUNTINGPLATE ATTACHED TO THE SIDE OF THE CASKET AND A CARRYING HANDLEINDIVIDUAL TO EACH MOUNTING PLATE, SAID HANDLES HAVING A GENERALLYL-SHAPED CONFIGURATION AND HAVING A HAND-GRIP PORTION AND A PINTLEPORTION EXTENDING GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO ONE END OF THE HAND-GRIPPORTION, MEANS NONSLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY MOUNTING THE PINTLE PORTION OFEACH HANDLE ON A RESPECTIVE MOUNTING PLATE FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUTAN AXIS GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE SIDE OF THE CASKET WITH THEHAND-GRIP PORTION OF THE HANDLE LATERALLY SPACED FROM THE MOUNTING PLATEAND THE SIDE OF THE CASKET TO ALLOW GRIPPING OF THE HANDLE, SAID PINTLEMOUNTING MEANS SUPPORTING SAID HANDLES FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN ANORMAL DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING POSITION SELECTIVELY IN EITHER DIRECTION TOFIRST AND SECOND RELATIVELY OPPOSITE HORIZONTAL POSITIONS FOR CARRYINGTHE CASKET IN EITHER DIRECTION, AND FIRST AND SECOND STOP MEANS FORLIMITING UPWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE HANDLE TO SAID FIRST AND SECONDHORIZONTAL POSITIONS.